Active textile structures with selectively variable surface friction characteristics

Abstract

Presented herein are active textile structures with selectively variable surface friction characteristics, methods for making/using such structures, and vehicle components fabricated with electronically controlled textile structures with modifiable surface friction characteristics. An active textile system for governing frictional force levels at an interface with a user or object is presented. The system includes a textile structure that is fabricated from interlaced first and second textile filaments. Each textile filament has a respective texture that exhibits a distinct coefficient of friction. The textile structure has an outer and/or upper contact surface at the interface with the user/object. An actuating element, which is connected to the textile structure, is operable to selectively transition the textile structure between first and second states. The first state includes the first textile filament defining the textile structure's outer contact surface, whereas the second state includes the second textile filament defining the outer contact surface.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An active textile system for governing frictional force levels at an interface with a user or object, the active textile system comprising:
 a textile structure including a first textile filament interlaced with a second textile filament, the first textile filament having a first texture with a first coefficient of friction, and the second textile filament having a second texture with a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction, the textile structure having an outer contact surface at the interface with the user or object, wherein the first and second textile filaments are interlaced in a tension-knit pattern that positions the first textile filament outboard from the second textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface; and 
 an actuating element including a boundary control actuator attached to the textile structure and configured to selectively transition the textile structure between first and second states, the first state including the first textile filament defining the outer contact surface of the textile structure, and the second state including the second textile filament defining the outer contact surface, the boundary control actuator repositioning the first and second textile filaments such that the second textile filament is outboard from the first textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface of the textile structure, the boundary control actuator including a support frame and an electronically controlled actuator, the support frame being attached to an outer perimeter of the textile structure, and the electronically controlled actuator being selectively actuable to reposition the support frame and thereby reposition the first and second textile filaments. 
 
     
     
       2. An active textile system for governing frictional force levels at an interface with a user or object, the active textile system comprising:
 a textile structure including a first textile filament interlaced with a second textile filament, the first textile filament having a first texture with a first coefficient of friction, and the second textile filament having a second texture with a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction, the textile structure having an outer contact surface at the interface with the user or object, wherein the first and second textile filaments are interlaced in a tension-knit pattern that positions the first textile filament outboard from the second textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface, and 
 an actuating element including a pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator attached to the textile structure and configured to selectively transition the textile structure between first and second states, the first state including the first textile filament defining the outer contact surface of the textile structure, and the second state including the second textile filament defining the outer contact surface, the pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator repositioning the first and second textile filaments such that the second textile filament is outboard from the first textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface of the textile structure. 
 
     
     
       3. The active textile system of  claim 2 , wherein the pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator includes a plurality of fluid tubes embedded within the textile structure, and a fluid-compressing device fluidly connected to the plurality of fluid tubes and operable to selectively expand and contract the plurality of fluid tubes. 
     
     
       4. An active textile system for governing frictional force levels at an interface with a user or object, the active textile system comprising:
 a textile structure including a first textile filament interlaced with a second textile filament, the first textile filament having a first texture with a first coefficient of friction, and the second textile filament having a second texture with a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction, the textile structure having an outer contact surface at the interface with the user or object, wherein the first and second textile filaments are interlaced in a tension-knit pattern that positions the first textile filament outboard from the second textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface; and 
 an actuating element including a vibrational actuator attached to the textile structure and configured to selectively transition the textile structure between first and second states, the first state including the first textile filament defining the outer contact surface of the textile structure, and the second state including the second textile filament defining the outer contact surface, the vibrational actuator repositioning the first and second textile filaments such that the second textile filament is outboard from the first textile filament to thereby define the outer contact surface of the textile structure, wherein the vibrational actuator includes a linear resonant actuator and/or an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor. 
 
     
     
       5. The active textile system of  claim 4 , wherein the first textile filament includes a first plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires, and wherein the second textile filament includes a second plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires. 
     
     
       6. The active textile system of  claim 1 , wherein the first textile filament includes a first plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires, and wherein the second textile filament includes a second plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires. 
     
     
       7. The active textile system of  claim 2 , wherein the first textile filament includes a first plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires, and wherein the second textile filament includes a second plurality of fibers, yarns, threads, thread-like structures, strands, and/or wires. 
     
     
       8. The active textile system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically controlled actuator includes a pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator physically attached to the textile structure. 
     
     
       9. The active textile system of  claim 4 , wherein the first textile filament is interlaced with the second textile filament via knitting, weaving, crocheting, braiding, bonding, and/or lacing. 
     
     
       10. The active textile system of  claim 1 , wherein the first textile filament is interlaced with the second textile filament via knitting, weaving, crocheting, braiding, bonding, and/or lacing. 
     
     
       11. The active textile system of  claim 2 , wherein the first textile filament is interlaced with the second textile filament via knitting, weaving, crocheting, braiding, bonding, and/or lacing. 
     
     
       12. The active textile system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle component of a motor vehicle, the vehicle component including a front dashboard, a steering wheel, a fascia panel, a seat assembly, a handle chassis, a center console, and/or a door handle, wherein the textile structure covers at least a portion of the vehicle component. 
     
     
       13. The active textile system of  claim 2 , further comprising a vehicle component of a motor vehicle, the vehicle component including a front dashboard, a steering wheel, a fascia panel, a seat assembly, a handle chassis, a center console, and/or a door handle, wherein the textile structure covers at least a portion of the vehicle component. 
     
     
       14. The active textile system of  claim 4 , further comprising a vehicle component of a motor vehicle, the vehicle component including a front dashboard, a steering wheel, a fascia panel, a seat assembly, a handle chassis, a center console, and/or a door handle, wherein the textile structure covers at least a portion of the vehicle component. 
     
     
       15. The active textile system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller communicatively connected to the actuating element and configured to control activation of the boundary control actuator to thereby transition the textile structure from the first state to the second state and/or from the second state to the first state. 
     
     
       16. The active textile system of  claim 2 , further comprising an electronic controller communicatively connected to the actuating element and configured to control activation of the pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator to thereby transition the textile structure from the first state to the second state and/or from the second state to the first state. 
     
     
       17. The active textile system of  claim 4 , further comprising an electronic controller communicatively connected to the actuating element and configured to control activation of the vibrational actuator to thereby transition the textile structure from the first state to the second state and/or from the second state to the first state. 
     
     
       18. The active textile system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating element transitioning the textile structure from the first state to the second state further causes the textile structure to change dimension, shape, and/or orientation. 
     
     
       19. The active textile system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating element transitioning the textile structure from the first state to the second state further causes the textile structure to change dimension, shape, and/or orientation. 
     
     
       20. The active textile system of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating element transitioning the textile structure from the first state to the second state further causes the textile structure to change dimension, shape, and/or orientation.